Talking book with removable sound source

Abstract

A talking book includes front and back covers and a plurality of individual leaves therebetween. The covers and leaves contain literal and graphic indicia thereon describing and illustrating at least one character, object or event. At least one sound source is removably attached to the book for producing sound corresponding to at least a selected one of the characters, objects and events illustrated and described in the book. The sound source includes at least one switch thereon for causing the production of sound in response to actuation of the switch. The switch is uniquely labelled to correspond to a selected one of the characters, objects or events.

I claim: 
     
       1. A talking book comprising front and back covers and a plurality of individual leaves therebetween, said covers and said leaves containing literal and graphic indicia thereon describing and illustrating at least one character, object or event, at least one sound source removably attached to said book for producing sound corresponding to at least a selected one of said character, object and event illustrated and described in said book, said sound source comprising means operative for producing said sound both when attached to and detached frown said book, said sound source including at least one switch means thereon for causing the production of sound in response to actuation of said switch means, said switch means being uniquely labelled to correspond to a selected one of said character, object or event. 
     
     
       2. A talking book as in claim 1, further comprising a second sound source fixed to said book. 
     
     
       3. A talking book as in claim 2, said second sound source including at least one switch means connected thereto for causing the production of sound in response to actuation of said switch means, said switch means being uniquely labelled to correspond to a selected one of said character, object and event. 
     
     
       4. A talking book as in claim 2, wherein the removable sound source and the second sound source are electronic sound sources. 
     
     
       5. A talking book as in claim 1, wherein the removable sound source comprises a simulated telephone handset. 
     
     
       6. A talking book as in claim 5, wherein said sound source includes a plurality of switch means arranged as in a telephone keypad. 
     
     
       7. A talking book as in claim 6, wherein each switch means is uniquely labelled to correspond to a selected one of a plurality of characters, objects or events. 
     
     
       8. A talking book comprising literal and graphic indicia therein describing and illustrating a story, at least one sound source removably attached to said book for producing sound corresponding to a selected character, object or event in said story, said sound source furthermore comprising means operative for producing said sound when detached from said book, said sound source including at least one switch means thereon for causing the production of sound in response to actuation of said switch means, said switch means being uniquely labelled to correspond to a selected one of said character, object and event, said book including literal and graphic cues for directing a reader to actuate said at least one switch means at preselected points in the story. 
     
     
       9. A talking book as in claim 8, further comprising a second sound source fixed to said book, said second sound source including switch means connected thereto for causing the production of sound in response to actuation of said switch means, said switch means being uniquely labelled to correspond to a selected one of said character, object or event. 
     
     
       10. A talking book as in claim 8, wherein the removable sound source comprises a simulated telephone handset having a plurality of switch means arranged as in a telephone keypad. 
     
     
       11. A talking book as in claim 10, wherein each switch means is uniquely labelled to correspond to a selected one of a plurality of characters, objects or events. 
     
     
       12. A talking book comprising front and back covers and a plurality individual leaves therebetween, said covers and said leaves containing literal and graphic indicia thereon describing and illustrating at least one character, object or event, at least one sound source removably attached to said book for producing sound corresponding to at least a selected one of said character, object and event illustrated and described in said book, said sound source comprising means operative for producing said sound both when attached to and detached from said book, said sound source including at least one switch means thereon for causing the production of sound in response to actuation of said switch means, said switch means being uniquely labelled to correspond to a selected one of said character, object or event, and wherein said front cover has an opening formed therein for permitting access to said sound source. 
     
     
       13. The combination of claim 12, wherein the removable sound source comprises a simulated telephone handset having a plurality of switch means arranged as in a telephone keypad. 
     
     
       14. A talking book comprising front and back covers and a plurality of individual leaves therebetween, said covers and said leaves containing literal and graphic indicia thereon describing and illustrating at least one character, object or event, at least one electronic sound source removably attached to said book for producing sound corresponding to at least a selected one of said character, object or event illustrated and described in said book, said removable sound source being in the form of a simulated telephone handset and having a plurality of switch means thereon arranged as in a telephone keypad for causing the production of sound in response to actuation of said switch means, said switch means being uniquely labelled to correspond to a selected one of said character, object or event, and a second electronic sound source fixed to said book, said second sound source including at least one switch means connected thereto for causing the production of sound in response to actuation of said switch means, said switch means connected to said second sound source being uniquely labelled to correspond to a selected one of said character, object or event.